City of Memphis
Wanted: Better paying jobs to attract talent to Memphis
‘We haven’t gone after those jobs ... that would make people drop everything and move to Memphis,' City Council member Martavius Jones said.
Bill Dries
Reporter
Bill Dries covers city and county government and politics. He is a native Memphian and has been a reporter for more than 40 years.
There are 3663 articles by Bill Dries :
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February 2021
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Podcast
City of Memphis -
City of Memphis MLGW change in debt policy could help with TVA split
A proposed change in the utility’s debt policy could allow it to build a power generating plant, which would be key if MLGW cuts its ties to TVA, and pay for the plant with the savings to come from it.
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Elections Vote-A-Rama and how the city’s representatives in Washington voted
Several dozen non-binding budget amendments were suggested in the Senate to make political statements. Meanwhile, there was a House vote on Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.
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City of Memphis Find out if your garbage pickup day has changed in city shuffle of solid waste
The link to city information on the “rebalance” includes a map to find your home as well as an app with reminders of the pickup schedule.
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Education SCS increasingly isolated as state’s only district without in-person classes
The state’s largest school system – Shelby County Schools – becomes the only school system in the state to have no in-person classes as Metro Nashville Schools resumes some in-person classes Thursday, Feb. 4.
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City of Memphis Hickory Hill and Cordova to get new solid waste pickup schedule
Both areas of the city are part of Area E on the city’s solid waste map, an area that has had problems with solid waste service even before the pandemic.
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City of Memphis Fairgrounds, Cobblestones funding approved
The Fairgrounds conversion to Liberty Park got a $4 million boost Tuesday, Feb. 2, to begin some ground work in May as well as to start designing buildings.
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City of Memphis City nonviolence initiative partners with national nonprofit
Memphis City Council members Tuesday approved a new office designed to intervene and prevent violence in the city.
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City of Memphis Puppy-sales ban passes first of three council votes
A city ordinance that would ban cat and dog sales at pet stores within Memphis passed the Memphis City Council Tuesday, Feb. 2, on the first of three readings.
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City of Memphis Accelerate Memphis slate and financing clears council
The $200 million slate of capital projects over a three-year period is on its way to state officials are approval after the pair of council votes Tuesday, Feb. 2. Council members approved both after one more review of the numbers and the reasoning behind the unique financing.
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City of Memphis City looking to rectify imbalance in MLGW water bill
The city has been paying Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division about $2 million a year for the past three fiscal years without a corresponding payment from MLGW in the form of a PILOT.
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City of Memphis City Council takes up $200 million ‘Accelerate Memphis’ plan, financing
The agenda also includes changes to the city’s financial policies to allow the balloon debt structure to finance the project.
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January 2021
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City of Memphis Third day goes smoothly at Appling vaccination site
The city auto inspection station on Appling City Cove bustled with volunteers Friday, three days into giving second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Those scheduled for vaccinations were urged to come no more than an hour before their scheduled times.
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Coronavirus State says Shelby getting its fair share of COVID vaccine
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee denies that Shelby County is getting less than its share of COVID-19 vaccine, and he sent a letter to Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland Wednesday, Jan. 27, saying so.
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City of Memphis City Council Scorecard: A street closing and a motion to table
The City Council’s most recent session featured a rare motion to table an item that didn’t have seven votes to pass, at least for now, and a vote to close a street even though the council could very well vote down the development that will follow the street closure.
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City of Memphis PILOT reform discussions try to avoid PowerPoints and path of past efforts
Before Shelby County Commissioners and Memphis City Council members get together to talk about changing the most used tax incentive in local economic development, they want to do more than watch PowerPoint presentations on PILOTs – payments in lieu of taxes.
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City of Memphis Akbari, Kelsey have different view of ‘following science’ on in-person school
On “Behind The Headlines,” the Republican and Democratic legislators from the Shelby County delegation to Nashville also agreed on mandatory summer school or tutoring to help students who have slipped academically during the pandemic.
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City of Memphis Ban on pet store sales of dogs and cats debated by council
The Memphis City Council votes next week on the first of three readings of an ordinance that would bar retail pet stores from selling dogs and cats.
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Shelby County Shelby County Commission Scorecard: Police militarization, Trump honors, Capitol insurrection
The County Commission Scorecard tracks how a seven-month-old police reform proposal moved from being one vote short of the seven necessary for final approval to 10 votes across party lines this week.
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City of Memphis Melrose plans include genealogical center, library
City Council members got their first look at the details of Accelerate Memphis on Tuesday, Jan. 26.
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City of Memphis Council balks at violence intervention office, delays vote
The council delayed a vote on getting the program started for a week. Council members generally back the idea of trying to intervene with those of both sides of violent crimes. But some saw too many law enforcement agencies involved in the initial pitch despite assurances it will instead be aimed at prevention.
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City of Memphis Council calls for feds to send vaccine directly to city
The council Tuesday voted unanimously to join a call by leaders in 22 of the nation’s largest cities to ask President Joe Biden to send vaccine directly to the cities and bypass state governments.
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City of Memphis New MPD dashboard to record excessive force complaints, reports
The dashboard was called for by City Council members this past December and will be added to three city websites. No date was given for when the information will go live, but it will data back to 2016.
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City of Memphis Puppy sales, city’s tallest building, sewers top City Council agenda
City Council members Tuesday will consider banning puppy sales as the only national pet store chain that sells puppies is readying a Wolfchase store. The council also gets an update on the vacant 100 North Main Building and talks over the latest changes to the city’s sewer system.
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Shelby County County Commission bans renamings for Trump, condemns Capitol insurrection
With no discussion, Shelby County commissioners approved Monday, Jan. 25, a resolution that forbids the county from renaming any of its property, roads, bridges or buildings in honor of former President Donald Trump.
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